Your New Year’s Resolutions will likely include a version of eating better. I am here to help.

I am a foodie and a professional, so it is my job to enjoy delicious food every day. This includes tangy arugula, silky salmon, or a gooey cake. I try to maximize pleasure while still eating sustainably and in moderation.

This is a balancing act I would like to share with you. My approach is broken down into bite-sized pieces.

1. Discover a new way to cook.

Make 2025 your year to learn how to cook if you are just getting started in the kitchen. New York Times Cooking’s recipe columnists have created a collection of recipes for absolute beginners. You will learn basic skills and gain confidence by cooking 10 different dishes.

Eric Kim’s tuna-mayo rice bowl is a great way to start, and you don’t need to turn on the stove at all if you’ve got leftover rice or use a rice cooker. Genevieve Ko’s cheesy egg on toast can be served for breakfast or dinner. My lemony chicken is made on a sheet pan and can be topped with your favourite condiment.

Here are some tips to help you stock your pantry. Even if I don’t plan or have the time to run to the grocery store, I can still cook something delicious and satisfying. It’s usually faster and cheaper than ordering takeout.

You can make a new recipe every month if you are a seasoned chef but lack inspiration. Bonus points are awarded if the recipe includes new ingredients or techniques. You can get your groove back with dishes like the one-pot ginger and mushroom rice (which requires velveting of the mushrooms) or crunchy scrunched salads with fried almonds. Sign up for the What to Cook Newsletter for more ideas.

2. Reduce your meat consumption.

As I get older, it becomes easier to reduce my meat consumption. It turns out that the less meat I consume, the less I want it. This is not true for cookies. Whole grains, beans and nuts are better for you than animal-based food.

Now, I mainly use meat as a seasoning for vegetables, beans, or pasta. Prosciutto, bacon, or a few ounces of ground turkey can go a long way.

Meat is minimized, and satisfaction is high with dishes like maple-roasted tofu, creamy tomato white bean soup, and tortellini in one pot with prosciutto, peas, and butternut squash. For some meatless recipes, subscribe to The Veggie, my colleague Tanya Sichynsky’s vegetarian Newsletter.

3. Reduce your alcohol consumption.

In my opinion, drinking more moderately is important. Drinking more mocktails and low- or non-alcohol drinks is as satisfying as drinking alcohol.

The ceremony of drinking is as important if it’s not more than the drink itself. If you give me a drink with a bittersweet taste in a beautiful coupe, I will never miss a hangover.

The nonalcoholic French 75 is a sweet, citrusy drink that’s nonalcoholic. It also contains olives and a nonalcoholic dirty lime tonic. The ruby-hued hibiscusfizz can be enjoyed for a quiet sip or to toast a special occasion.